Mark Selby and Marco Fu are currently engaged in a World Snooker classic at the crucible and are tied at 12-12 going into the final session of their semi-final this evening. The second semi-final between Ding Junhui and Alan McManus had to be delayed owing to a marathon final frame between Selby and Fu. Initially, it was thought that the frame fell agonisingly short of the longest frame in Crucible history, coming in 28 seconds behind the 2009 clash between Stephen Maguire and Mark King:
Just short.
Finally Selby wins.
28 more seconds to beat 75 minutes - the longest frame in Crucible history. pic.twitter.com/P8vOgrexT0— BBC Snooker (@BBCSnooker) April 30, 2016
Afterwards, however, it was revealed that the time of 74 minutes and 32 seconds did not include the toilet break taken by Selby:
That moment when you realise you've only put 2 hours on parking#ilovesnooker @Betfred pic.twitter.com/JdTnomPEnL
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) April 30, 2016
The long haul.
Fu & Selby's final frame is - at 76mins 11secs - the longest in Crucible history because the toilet break is included.— BBC Snooker (@BBCSnooker) April 30, 2016
The frame was too long for BBC commentator John Virgo, who forgot that his microphone was still on as he complained about the prospect of missing racing and Match of the Day, featuring the f-bomb:
When John Virgo starts moaning about missing the racing and having to settle for the F***ing MOTD 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Zq7bHHSs7v
— Alex Walmsley (@engywalmsley) April 30, 2016
The Crucible crowd are positively gripped by this 24th frame of Fu-Selby. #ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/ddW4D4Hufh
— John Skilbeck (@JohnESkilbeck) April 30, 2016
Should Selby make the final, he has promised to turn up to the Crucible in a Leicester kit. The World Number 1 is a big Leicester City fan, and his nickname is the 'Jester from Leicester'. Rubbish monikers aside, Selby has promised to prove his allegiance at snooker's flagship event:
If I won it would not be as big a shock but winning the World Championship is as hard as it gets for us snooker players.
I know Gary Lineker has promised to present Match of the Day in his underpants if we win it.
I'm not doing that at the Crucible if I make it to the final and we clinch it because I'd get fined!
But maybe I could wear a club shirt and shorts for the introductions.
The game resumes tonight.
